AZ ORSZÁGOS SZÉCHÉNYI KÖNYVTÁR ÉVKÖNYVE 1960. Budapest (1962)

IV. Könyvtár- és művelődéstörténeti tanulmányok - Summaries

also holds microfilm records of the revolutionary press dating from 1848 and 1918/19. The collection of microfilms recording musical and theatre-historical material is important, including, among others, microcopied autographs of 18th and 19th century composers. Despite expressed achievements in the microrecording process of the Library's material, it must be confessed that the tempo of the work is not satisfactory. This is partly explained by the fact that

—seemingly

—-the aims and importance of the microrecording work in our national library have not yet been fully recognized and the work has not received the support it deserves on part of the leading officials of the Library. In evaluating the role played by the microfilm and the microcopy in the life of a library, the following two basic differences should be taken into account: a) does the microcopy serve as a replacement of the original in the holdings of the library, or b) is it a duplication of the original work. On account of several facilities afforded by the microfilm, such as rationalized collecting of data, long-distance library research, elimination of making notes, etc., the indispensability of the microfilm in documentary and scientific research work has been generally recognized and appreciated. It leaves no doubt any longer that microcopying and reproducing processes are integral parts of library acquisiton policies, insofar as they multiply the chances of acquiring publications not available up to then, or complements to fragmentary or defective works, — even if only in the form of microcopies. Another important role of the microfilm is allotted to it in the inter-library loan service, making it possible for certain requested works to be made accessible to the public without having to expose the original to the danger of injury through excessive use. Most of the reservations in connection with microrecording as a means of protecting the stocks of the national library are heard on the grounds that the book itself is accessible to anyone who wishes to use it, since the national library is responsible for the archival preservation of the requested publications. Microrecording as a means of protecting library holdings and for security considerations was made necessary throughout the world as disaster and war damage control. The evident aim was to find ways and means that made it possible for at least the text of a certain work to survive in the case of war, or damage by the forces of nature, or crumbling of the material. With this end in mind, microcopies should be technically perfect and time-resistant, they should be stored in a safe place, in fact, dispersed in storage, and as another safety measure, possibly more than one microcopy should exist of the same work. At the same time, the microfilm or microcopy make it possible to be used as substitutes for the original works, while these, not exposed to everyday use, serve the immediate protection of the holdings of a library. With regard to the application of microcopies in our Library, at present several grave obstacles prevent this facility, among which not the least is the lack of the necessary number and type of reading devices. Also, as already explained before, users and even librarians, still have an aversion to using microfilms instead of original works. In the opinion of the author sooner or later the time will come when the application of microrecords will have to be made compulsory by the state of wear of originals, as for instance in the case of our decaying newspapers. It should not be forgotten that with time an ever growing part of our library stocks- will be exposed to wear and tear and thus the chance of making readable microcopies will lessen. It is suggested, therefore, that the work of microrecording the Library's material be performed as rapidly as possible and the pace of the work stepped up. In working out the detailed programme for the microfilming of the Library's materials, the most valuable historical material should be recorded first of all and — in the author's opinion — preference must be given to .books already in a bad condition and used mostly. In the case of this category the originals should be given increased protection and the damages speedily remedied. From among the known microrecording processes (microfilm, microfiche, microcard, etc.) the most suitable process should be chosen for the work without waiting first for the implementation of the programme, in fact, in view of the urgency it is suggested that the available method (35 mm perforated microfilm) be utilized and the best possible techniques applied in order to create at least a basic stock for future additional duplication, for example, with the help of the Copyflo process. There are quite a few persons who are in favour of the microcard as a more practicable method of reproduction for library application, but it was found that owing to the comparative slowness of that particular method, it should not be used, especially not with regard 344